Blank-book-making machine



F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE July 3, 1928.

Filed Feb. 16, 1927 h she Swuewtoz,

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE w NQN Fild Feb. 16, 1927 July 3, 1928.

July 3, 1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1927VENTOR fiedgb/c R672 2:-

ATTORNEY July 3, .1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5July 3, 1928.

BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE wNN R INVENTO fiecZefiz'cZ: Ren

ATTORNEY July 3,1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 RMk F 7 Wm Om 11% a q} 7 j m :w 7& my L 3 .2a 0 0 5,. J 5 7% J 8 w? L HMJl/// J mom W ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928. i 4

UNITED STATES FREDERICK RIJNZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

v BLANK-BOOK-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,753.

This invention relates to blank book making machines for producing blankbooks of the school-room type, with a flexible back or cover sewed tothe sheets of the book, and a binder strip applied to the cover by asuit able adhesive, centrally and longitudinally thereof to cover thestitches and to reinforce the book cover at that point, so that frequentbending will not cause the wings of the said cover to separate or breakapart.

In the manufacture of blank books of the above described type, thesheets are first cut to size and arranged in counted stacks which areseparated by the covers of the respective stacks. The size of thestacked sheets may be, for example, sixteen inches wide by thirty incheslong, thus making a blank book, when finished by my improved machine,eight inches wide by thirty inches long, which may finally be cut intoten inch lengths making three complete books 8 x 10 inches in size fromeach stock length, the sizes, of course, vary with the stock used.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a moving support is providedto carry the successive stacks and their covers rearwardly under asuitable sewing device to secure the respective stacks and coverstogether along the central or median line of the books, after which inthe further backward movement of the books, a strip, carrying a wetadhesive, is applied to the covers from below and along the center lineover the stitches, after which the line of traveling books are passedthrough a sealing device to press the strip into intimate contact withthe cover. I r

In the further backward movement of the books they are drawn or fedthrough a crimping or breaking device for imparting a sharp bend to thebooks along the longitudinal centers thereof at the stitch line, afterwhich the books are passed through a squeezing device which engages thefolded edges of the books and applies great pressure thereon to finallyset the fold and binding strip so that the free side portions of saidbooks will stay put, after which, the books thus formed may be trimmedand cut to size.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a blank book makingmachine having moving carriers for a progressive line of sheet stacksand the employment of a series of progressively operable stations, in-

cluding a sewing station, a stripping and pressing o r sealing station,a crimping or breaking station and a squeezing station, operable in theorder named, the operative parts of the various stations being drivenfrom a common source of power and so timed that the travel of the sheetstacks or books through the machine is of uniform speed from the firststation to the last.

A feature of the construction is found in mounting some of the'pressureapplying elements at the stripping station in a swinging frame to enablethe operator to raise the parts so mounted, out of the way, when aninspection is necessary. Another important structural feature of theinvention resides in the crimping or breaking means which consists ofendless chains having relative uniform movement.

The chains are arranged in vertical registration, and consist of anupper male chain and a lower female chain having links for-med with Vshaped grooves, while the upper male chain has links formed with Vshaped ribs and by this construction the sheet stacks are given a welldefined sharp break or bend.

Other features are present in improved tripping means for operating acutter for severing the binding strip and stitching threads as the booksare entering the squeezing station of the machine, a feeler beingprovided which bears on the sides of the books as they go past and isdrawn or moved slightly inward as each book passes to control saidtripping mechanism and cause the cutter to sever the binding strip andthreads between the books, there being a space of one to three inches,depending upon the feed at the front of the machine.

A further important feature is the construction and operation of thesqueezing device which includes horizontally arranged endless companionchains having block links with smooth inner faces, said chains being,adjustably mounted to accommodate books of various thicknesses.

The invention has for its further objects to provide certain other novelfeatures, all of which will be more clearly defined in the followingdetailed description.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference characters are employedto designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in whichFigs. 1-1"' is a side elevation of the blank book making machine, partsbeing broken away and parts omitted.

Figs. 22 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial cross section taken about on the line 3'3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear end; elevation of the squeezing device showing a blankbook in position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken about on the line 5-5 of Fig.1, showing the cutter operating or controlling clutch and its trippingmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a partial section taken on the line 6-6 of-Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the-line 77 of Fig. 5,showing parts of the clutch tripping mechanism.

Fig. 7 a perspective view of parts of the clutch tripping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7, looking in thedirection of'the arrow 8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the cutter control clutch and its trippingmechanism.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross section on the line 1010 of Fig. 1, showingthe construction and co-action of the male and female chains of thecrimping or breaking device, a book being shown in position.

I Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal section of the cutter controlclutch.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the line 1313 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line 1414 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the cutter 'or knife showing itsconnection with a rotatable disk and also showing its forked free endengaging a supporting guide pin.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section through the cutter on the line 16-16 ofFig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detail section taken on the line 1717 of Fig. 2.

vFig. 18 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 1818 of Fig.2, showing a blank book in position between the carriers atthe sewingstation.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged'detail cross section taken on the line 19-19 ofFig. 1.

Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive show the result of the various progressiveoperations performed by my machine.

Fig. 24 shows an end edge view of a completed blank book after beingtrimmed and made ready for the market.

' Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the form of links employed inthe companion chains ofthe squeezing device.

Fig. 26 is a detail side view of the male crimping chain.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary detail showing how the sewing threads are'heldin kerfs or grooves when a cutter operates to sever them.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a frame 1 comprising longitudinalrails 2, cross bars 3, and supporting posts 4. Journalled in suitablebrackets 5 at the front of the machine is a power shaft 6, on which arekeyed a power sprocket, pulley or gear 7, an eccentric disk 8, andsmaller driven sprockets 9 and 10.

Mounted on a suitable base frame 11, extending across the machine andresting on the side rails 2, is a sewing machine head 12, which isoperated through a sprocket wheel 13 by a chain 14 geared in connectionwith the sprocket 9 on the main power shaft 6.

A feed table 15 is supported at the front of the machine, at which theoperator stands to feed the counted sheet stacks, with their covers,into the machine. Gages 16, adj ustable laterally to accommodate stacksof various widths, are provided on the feed table to expedite thefeeding operation and in this connection the stacks should be leftseparated an inch or so to permit a cutter, hereinafter described, topass between them to sever a binding strip and sewing threads connectingthem. 7

A counter shaft 17 is mounted in bearings 18 at the front of the machineand extends the entire width thereof. It has a projected end on which aratchet wheel 19 is mounted and keyed and within the frame. This shaftcarries a sprocket 20, a gear 21, (see Fig. 17,) and a pair of carrierbelt supporting rolls 22.

The counter shaft is driven in rapid short step movements, and as bothmain drive chains and the carrier belts take power from this shaft, theentire mechanism is driven at a uniform rapid step movement speed, withthe exception of the sewing machine and the cutter control clutch, whichare driven by chains operated from the main power shaft which hasconstant rotation.

The eccentric disk 8, (see best Fig. 1) carries a loose strap 23, whichis pivotally connected through an arm 24 to a slide plate 25 guided in aframe 26 which is bolted to a corner post 4 of the main frame 1.

The slide plate 25 carries a pivoted push dog 27 engaging the ratchetwheel 19, and a holding dog 28 for the ratchet, swings from a pin fixedframe 26. The throw of the eccentric 8, should be equal to the distancebetween the teeth of the ratchet, so that the carrier belts are givenstep movements equal to the length of the switches made by the sewingmachine, thus permitting the sewing needle to rise clear of the sheetstack between the feeding movements of the mechanism.

A pair of main carrier or conveyor belts 29 travel on the rolls 22 ofthe drive shaft 17 and on another pair of rolls 30 on a free runningcross shaft 31 arranged near the longitudinal center of the machine.These belts 29, support and convey the sheet stacks backwardly throughthe machine in rapid step movements, their lower reaches being passeddownwardly through the frame and under rollers 32 which are linkedtogether as at 83 and Weighted as at 34 to hold the belts taut over thebed of the machine.

Mounted to travel and co-act with the belts 29 are short endless feedbelts 35, carried on two pairs of rollers 36 and 37 arranged on crossshafts 38 and 39 respectively.

The gear 21 (see Fig. 17,) fixed to the shaft 17, is in mesh with acompanion gear 40 rotatable with a sprocket 41 on a short pin shaft 42,said sprocket being connected by a chain 43 to a companion sprocket 44on the shaft 39 and by this means, said shaft 39 is driven in thedirection of the spiral arrow 45 to operate the short endless feed belts35.

Pivotally connected to a pair of spaced uprights 46, which are bolted toone of the cross bars 3 of the frame 1, is a swingable frame 47comprising parallel bars 48 connected by bolts or pins 49 to theuprights and carrying at their free ends a. roller 50 revoluble on across bolt 51.

The roller 50 supports an endless presser belt 52, which is passed overanother roller 53 on the shaft 39 by which said belt. is driven.

Directly under the presser belt 52 is mounted another belt 54, whichtravels with the said presser belt to convey the blank booksv backward.It is carried on rollers 55 and 56, the former being mounted on a freerunning shaft 57 and the latter on the'shaft 31 which is driven. throughthe belts 29.

, Pivoted on one of the side bars of the swinging frame 47, are springpulled lever arms 58, carrying thrust rollers 59, which bear on thelower reach of the belt 52 to exert constant downward pressure thereon.Directly under the bearing point of the rollers 59. are fixedly mountedthrust absorbing rollers 60 arranged to support the upper reach of thelower belt 54. By employing the above described construction I provideapressing device of sufficient power to effectively seal the bindingstrip 61 to the covers of the passing books prior to the crimping orbreaking operation. "The binding strip 61 is drawn into the machine, byreason of its being pasted to the passing book covers, from a supplyroll 62, through a water pan 63 to wet theadhesive provided on one sideof the strip, and thence over a direction roller 64 and in under thecovers and over the belt 54 with the wet adhesive side uppermost.

Having thus described the mechanism of the stripping and pressingstation, I will now proceed to describe the construction an d operationof the mechanism comprising the crimping or breaking station.

Bolted to the side rails 2 of the main frame 1 is a strong bridge frame65 comprising side posts 66 and a connecting cross bar 67 bolted totheir tops. Bearing blocks 68, adjustable in guides 69 are provided toreceive a short shaft 7 0 on which a sprocket wheel 71 is keyed.

On an extended end of the shaft is a gear 72 which is in mesh with a.companion gear 73 keyed on a shaft 74 having one of its ends projectingthrough and beyond one of the side posts to receive a drive sprocket 75for the upper or male member of the crimping mechanism. The sprocket 75is operated through a chain 76 by a sprocket 77 fast on a cross shaft78, which is driven from the sprocket 20 on the step movement driveshaft 17 through a chain 79 geared in connection with a sprocket 80 (seeFig. 2) also on said shaft 78.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a second strong bridge frame 81bolted to the side rails 2 of the main frame 1 and some distance to therear of the frame (35. This frame is also formed of side posts 82 and aconnecting cross bar 83, on which bearing blocks 84 are carried toreceive a cross pin 85, on which a sprocket 86 is mounted.

ill

Hii

The sprockets 71 and 86 are of like size and support a male crimping orbreaking chain of novel construction. It comprises an ordinary sprocketchain enclosed in a series of ribbed blocks 88, (see best Fig. 10,) theconstruction of this male chain 87 being such that the said blocks, whenthe chain is straight, will have their ends abutting so that no openspace will exist between them. They are of equal length and are formedeach with a channel 89 leaving spaced side walls 90 and are shaped onthe outer side with a V shaped rib 91.

A common sprocket chain is placed in the channel formed by the series ofblocks 88 and the connecting pins of said chain 93 are extended throughthe side walls 90 of the blocks and riveted as clearly shown in Fig. 10,of the drawings.

The lower member of the crimping or breaking mechanism is constituted byan endless female chain 94, carried on sprockets 95 and 96, the formerrotating on a cross pin 97, mounted in an adjustable bearing 98, fixedin the frame 1 and the latter being keyed to the shaft 78 from which thesaid female chain is driven.

The link construction of the fen'iale chain is clearly shown in Figs. 5and 10 of the drawings and may be described as follows :-A commonsprocket chain 99 is employed to ride the sprockets and 96, itsconnecting pins being extended, as in the male chain, and pass throughproper holes I (PI;

in strap pieces 100, and riveted on the sides as shown.

The strap pieces are bent at an angle-and are riveted to V shaped female.channel pieces 101, between which and the ribbed blocks 88 of the malechain, the blank books or book stacks 102 are crimped in the operationof the machine.

The bent portions of the strap pieces 100 rest and slide on thrustabsorbing rails 103 supported on members 104 which are secured toparallel bars 105 supported by posts 106, rising from cross bars 107 inthe frame 1. A central si'ipporting bar 108 is provided under thesprocket chain 99 to absorb some of the downward thrust resulting fromthe crimping or breaking operation.

As shown in Fig. 1, the female chain 94 moves upwardly, or is inclinedtoward the male chain so that the crimping pressure is applied graduallyon the passing books thus pern'iitting them to become adjusted properlybefore the greatest pressure is applied. To brace and back up the malechain alon the lower reach thereof, to )revcnt buckling or breakage, Iemploy a solid frame 109 comprlsing parallel side bars 110 supported attheir ends, on the cross pins and .85 of the sprockets 71 and 86.Between these side bars, I place a third bar 111 which bears directly onthe sprocket chain-93 in the channels of the blocks 88.

A cutter or knife 112 is pivotally connected at one end to an operatingdisk 113, its other or free end being forked, providing a slot 114 inwhich a fixed pin 115 is received. The slot extends inwardly from theend in a straight horizontal line as at 116, and then upwardly andinwardly as at 117 to form a cam portion to lift the free end of theknife as it is drawn across the line of travel of the books by therotation of its operating disk 113 when severing the binding strip andsewing threads extending between the books. (See Fig. 6.)

This cutting operation must be accurately timed and quickly executed asthe books movev rapidly through the machine. I accomplish the aboveresults automatically, by employing a tripping mechanism, controlled bythe passing books, and a one revolution clutch controlled by the saidtripping mech anism which I will now proceed todescribe.

A bracket 118 is bolted to an extension of the cross bar 83 of the frame81, and is formed with an inwardly directed arm 119, a depending arm120, and side extensions 121 and 122. The end of the arm 119 is formedwith a vertical bearing 123 to receive a shaft 124, carrying a feeler orfinger 125. Attached to the shaft 124 at the top, above the-arm 119, isan arm 127 whose hub rests on the arm 119.

The finger 125 keyed to the shaft 124 extends through an opening 128formed in a sheet metal sideguide 129 for the wings of the books, and'isurged against one side of the books as they pass, by'a pull spring 130connected atone end to the arm 127 and anchored to the guide 129 at itsother end as shown in Fig. 7. As each book passes the finger 125, itwill ride off the rear end thereof and snap inwardlyagainst a stop andguide finger or plate 131 mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft132 supported at the top from the cross bar 83 of the cross frame 81.

The inward movement of the finger 125 caused by the, pull of the spring130 turns the shaft 124, thus causing the arm 127 to move inwardly,drawing a connected link 133 with it. This link is connected with a hookportion 134 of a rocking tripper 135 which, through said link is tiltedupward on its pivot. that is, the free end of the tripper is tiltedupward and since the tip end of the tripper is normally under the freeend of a trip arm 136 it will raise it a short distance and release theclutch controlling the cutter, and cause it to sever the binding stripas will later appear.

To provide for re-setting theparts quickly between the trippingoperations, the trip arm 136 is made in two parts connected by an elbowjoint 137 which breaks outwardly, said parts being, held in alignment bya thin leaf spring 138.

In the automatic operation of re-setting the parts of the trippingmechanism, the next oncoming book strikes and forces out the finger 125,from its inward tripped position, which outward movement turns the shaft124 inthe opposite direction, or to the right when viewed from above,and throws the arm 127 also to the right thus pushing the link over toforce the free end of the tripper 135 down to its normal operativeposition, as in F ig; 7

The free end of the trip arm 136 normally lies in the swinging path ofthe tripper end, which forces it. outward as it passes, but snaps backagain over thesaid tripper end and the parts are re-set. At the passingof another book past the finger 125, the above operations are repeated.

To release the cutter operating clutch, which will be hereinafterdescribed, the trip arm 136is provided with a shoulder 139, againstwhich the free end or nose of a shift lever 140 is held by a pull spring141, which is attached at one end to a tail piece 142 of the said leverand at its other end to the extension 1220f the bracket 118.

The shift lever 140 is pivoted as at 143 to the depending arm 120 of thebracket 118, and has pivotal connection with one endof a shift link 144,it being adjustably connected at its other end to an upright oscillatorylever or shift arm 146, as at 145, said shift arm being pivotallysupported on a fixed standard bearing 147 and having its lower endconnected by a pivot pin to a slide bar 148 operating in suitableguides.

The slide bar 148 is turned up at its rear end 13) to provide abearingfor a roller 149, said slide bar also carries a vertical stop pin 150which normally is positioned to engage a projecting pin 151 on a camsleeve 152 of the cutter controlling clutch G.

The construction of this single revolution clutch C is best shown inFigs. 11 to 13 inclusive. It comprises a normally stationaryhorizontally arranged shaft 153 journalled in post bearings 154 and haskeyed thereto the above mentioned cam sleeve 152 which cartened portion158 of the shaft, see Fig. 12.

The sleeve 152 is formed with a face cam 159 which operates to engagethe roller 149 and draw the slide bar back to its normal position tobring the stop pin 150 again under the pin 151 to stop the rotation ofthe clutch after the tripping operation.

A sprocket 160 is formed with, or mounted on a hub 161 freely mounted onthe reduced portion 155 of the cam sleeve and is constantly driven, whenthe machine is in operation, by a chain 162 riding on a companionsprocket 163 carried on a cross shaft 164. This shaft is extended beyondthe side frame and carries another sprocket 165 which is driven througha chain 166 from the sprocket 10 on the main power shaft 6 of themachine, see Fig. 2.

In the outer end of the cam sleeve 152, is a circular groove or channel167 in which a slightly compressed spiral spring 168 is positionedbetween a pin 169 fixed in the cam sleeve and a pin 170 in the shaft153.

Keyed on the outer end of the clutch shaft 153, is a circular head 171having a flat face 172 which normally rests on the head of a plunger173, urged upwardly by a stout spring 174 whose thrusting power must besufficient to overcome the thrust of the spiral spring 168 in thecircular groove 167.

The object of this construction is to impart a short quick rotarymovement to the cam sleeve 152 at the moment the holding pin 150 ismoved clear of the pin 151. This short movement serves to jam the clutchroller 157 resulting in a quick positive pick up of the cam sleeve withno lost motion.

To accomplish the above described jamming action of the clutch roller,the head 171 is circumferentially positioned on the clutch shaft so thatthe flat face 172 is not quite flat on the head of the plunger 173 whenthe pin 151 strikes the holding pin 150 to stop the rotation of the camsleeve, but the strength ofthe spring 174, under the head of the plunger173, snaps the circular head and further compressing the spring 168, so

that when the stop pin 150 is drawn out from under the pin 151 by thetripping mechanism, through the slide bar 148, the said sleeve will begiven a slight rotative movement by the push of the said spring 168against the pin 169, the extent of this movement being the distancebetween the pins 169 and 170.

The shaft 153 is extended beyond the inner bearing post 154, and on thisextension I fix a bevel gear 175, whichco-acts wlth a companion gear176, to drive a shaft 177, on which the cutter operating disk 113 1skeyed, said shaft being supported in a suitable bearing 178.

The slide 148 may have a spring connection 17 9,'to maintain it in thenormal inoperative position with the stop pm 150 under the contactingpin 151.

Mounted on the outer end of the cross shaft 78, journalled in the frame81, is a sprocket 180 which serves to drive another sprocket 181 througha chain 182 to impart rotation to a cross shaft 183 journalled in hangerbearings 184 at the rear end of the machine.

Keyed to this last mentioned shaft is a bevel gear 185 which co-actswith a larger bevel gear 186 to drive a vertically arranged shaft 187,which, through intermeshed companion gears 188, drives an oppositeparallel shaft 189.

These shafts 187, 189, also carry coinpanion sprockets 190, on which apair of endless squeezing chains are carried and from which they aredriven.

The last mentioned parallel squeezing chain drive shafts are mounted torotate in vertically aligned bearings 192 and 193, as clearly shown inFig. 4 of the drawings.

The entir squeezing mechanism is preferably mounted on parallel,longitudinally arranged base plates 194, supported on cross bars of theframe 1. Bolted to these base plates at the forward ends thereof, arebearings 195, in which rotate vertical shafts 196 carrying companionsprockets 197.

Arranged in a substantially central position on the said base plates 194are a pair of oppositely aligned thrust bearings 198 and 199 in whichrotatable shafts 200 oper ate, said shafts having companion sprockets201 keyed thereto.

The bearing 198, is slidably mounted and is adjusted through theinstrumentality of a set screw 204, threaded through a bar 205, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

The opposite bearing 199, is also slidably by a 'tensionally controlledshoe or head 206 formed with an outwardly extending arm 207 connected bya strong pull spring 208 to a pivoted bar 209, resting against a stoppin 210, which may be placed in one of a series of holes 211 to adjustthe spring tension.

It will be understood that when books of various sizes are to be made,the thrust bearings may be expeditiously adjusted to meet the necessaryrequirements.

The construction of the squeezing chains is clearly shown in Fig. 25 ofthe drawings, each comprising a common sprocket chain 212 and abuttingblock links 213 having smooth pressing or squeezing faces 214 and rearchannels 215 providing spaced side walls 216 which are drilled toreceive extended pivot pins 217 of the sprocket chain which is. receivedin the channels of the block links.

The squeezing chains 191-converge from the sprockets 197 to thesprockets 210where they normally are in contact and are backed orsupported against lateral thrusts by fixed bars-218, adjustably securedto cross bars of the frame, by screws 219.

The stock blank books made by this ma chine are always of a length tomore than span the distance between the ends of the breaking or crimpingchains, and the pressure applying point of the squeezing chains, so thatthe leading ends of the successive books are gripped between them beforethe trailing ends of said books move out of engagement with the crimpingchains, thus assuring a constant feed and satisfactory production.

i To assist in guiding the books as they pass into. the squeezingmechanism and to prevent side bending when the cutter operates, Iprovide a vertically arranged guide plate 220, having pivotal connectionwith vertical supporting hangers 221 secured at the top by slot and boltconnections 222 toa bent down portion of a shelf plate 223, bolted tothe cross bar 83 of the bridge frame 81 and the rear end of this shelfplate is supported by a brace bar-224, which may be bolted to one'of thebearings 195 (see Fig. l

' The guide plate 220, has a cross sectional V shaped lower edge 225 inwhich a slot 226 is formed to receive the cutter 112 in its operativemovements, and at opposite sides of the mouth of the slot, grooves orkerfs 227 are cut to receive and hold the sewing threads 228 against'sidewise movement when the cut is made, see Fig. 27.

'Associated with the guide plate 220 is a cross sectionally V shapedbook supporting tongue or trough corresponding in shape to the loweredge of said plate (see Fig. 19).

This tongue or trough 229, being rigidly supported on a cross bar offrame 1.

The slot and bolt connections 222 of the guide plate hangers 221 andtheir pivotal connection to said plate are provided to per mit eitherend of th plate to be raised or lowered as required.

It will, of course, be understood that the proportions of th books shownin Figs. 21 to 24 inclusive, are not accurate, these step operationviews being illustrative only, no relative proportions being attempted.

What I claim is 1 l. The combination with a carrier for the book stacksand their covers, of a sewing device, means for holding the wings of thebooks in a flat condition when passing said device, means for applying awet adhesive binding strip to the underside of the covers along themedian line thereof, yielding presser means to seal the binding strip tothe cover, a crimping'mechanism comprising vertically aligned chains toengage and bend the books along the center line, a cutter for severingthe binding strip and sewing threads, trip mechanism for the cutterc011- trolled by the passing books, squeezing mechanism includingcompanion chains to engage and set the folded edges of the books andmeans-for imparting rapid step feed movements to the conveying parts.

2. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers,of a sewing device, parallel endless belts normally contacting with saidcarrier and traveling therewith to hold the books flat when the stitchesare made, a stripping device to apply an adhesive strip to the back ofthe moving books, means, including a swingable frame and pivoted armscarrying rollers, for sealing the strips to the books, mechanismincluding male and female chains for crimping'the books, mechanism forsqueezing the hinged edges thereof and driving means for the parts.

3. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers,of a sewer, devices for holding the books flat when passing the sewer,means for applying a stripto the passing stacks, presser'belts forsealing the strip in position, crimping mechanism, including respectivegrooved and ribbed coacting chains, a cutter-operating across the lineof travel of the stacks and between the same, squeezing mechanism,including companion chains, to set the central fold of the books andmeans for driving the parts in rapid step movements.

1. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers,of a sewing device,'belts operating at opposite sides of the stitch linemade by said device, means for applying a strip to the books as theypass, a presser device comprising normally contacting endless beltsarranged one over the other, a vertically swingable frame, spring pulledarms, and rollers thereon, mechanism for bending the books, means forcutting the said strip and stitch threads, means, including companionchains, for setting the fold of said books and means for driving theparts set forth from a common source of power.

5. In a blank book making machine, a carrier for the books and theircovers, a sewer arranged to stitch the stacks along the centrallongitudinal line thereof, means for conveying the stacks past the sewerin a flattened out position, means for stripping the books as they pass,a swingable device for sealing the strip in place, a crimping mechanismcomprising male and female breaking chains to form a sharp bend at themedian line of the passing books, a cutter to sever the strip and sewingthreads, a squeezing mechanism for setting the folded edge of thepassing books and means for driving the book making parts in rapid stepmovements, said squeezing mechanism comprising divergent companionchains.

6. In a blank book making machine, means for sealing the binding stripto the covers of the passing books, said means comprising a lower movingbelt and a normally contacting upper belt, a swing-able frame, armspivoted thereon, rollers carried on said pivoted arms arranged to rideon the lower reach of the upper belt and other rollers in verticalalignment with the upper ones and bearing on the under face of the upperreach of the lowerbelt to take the pressure thrusts, in combination withchain mechanism for crimping the books, a cutter device, a squeezingchain mechanism, and means for feeding said books through the machine.

7. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers,of a sewing device, means for stripping the books as they pass, apresser device, including a belt and roller carrying swingable frame, toseal the strip to the moving books, means including chains for crimpingthe books while passing, means for setting the folded edges of the saidmoving books and means for driving the parts, said setting meanscomprising companion chains operating in a. horizontal plane, and meansfor driving the parts.

8. In a blank book making machine, the combination with a moving carrierfor the book stacks and the covers therefor, a sewing device, means forapplying a strip to the books as they pass, a device, including aswingable frame, an endless belt and rollers thereon for exertingyielding pressure over the strip to seal the same while the books passbackwardly, a crimping device comprising male and female verticallyaligned chains the links of which are formed with inter-co-acting ribson the male, and grooves on the female, squeezing mechanism, comprisingchains, to finally set the fold of he books as they pass and means forimparting rapid step movements to parts of the machine.

9. In a blank book making machine, means for sealing binding strips tothe covers as the books pass, said means comprisa series of fixedlymounted bed rollers, a belt having its upper reach resting thereon,another belt resting on and movable with the bed belt, said upper beltbeing driven from a fixedly mounted roller, a pivoted frame, a roller crried on the free end of th frame to support said upper belt, leverspivoted on said frame, rollers on the lower ends of the levers and pullsprings attached to the upper ends thereof to urge said rollers inpressing contact with the lower reach of the upper belt, in combinationwith a sewing device, crimping means, a cutter, a squeezing devicecomprising companion chains, and means for feeding the books through themachine.

10. In a blank book making machine, means for setting the folded edge ofthe in coming books, saidmeans comprising op posite, companion squeezingchains having smooth faced block links, said chains being so arranged.on their carrying and driving sprockets. that they are caused toconverge iackwardly to their contacting point, to form a guiding mouthfor the books, after which the chains diverge to form a free deliveryspace for the finished books.

11. In a book making machine of the character described, a framecomprising a longitudinal side rail and corner post structure and aforward and rear bridge frame each having side supports and connectingcross bars, a moving carrier extending rearwardly under and beyond theforward bridge frame and comprising spaced companion belts, a pair ofsuperposed presser belts disposed between said carrier belts andtraveling therewith, male and female coacting crimping and conveyingsprocket chains operating between the bridge frames, a cutter arrangedback of the rear bridge frame, and a pair of endless smooth facedsqueezing chains operating in a horizontal plane arranged back of saidcutter, said belts and chains being operated in rapid step movements andfor the purpose described.

12, In a book making machine, means for guid'Zng the books between thecrimping and squeezing mechanisms, said means comprising a verticallydisposed plate having", pivotal connection with parallel suspensionbars, adjustably connected to a supporting member bolted to the crossbar of the rear bridge frame, said plate being provided with a slot inwhich a cutter operates, the of the mouth of the said slot being cut toform grooves to receive and hold the sewing threads against sidemovement during the severing operation.

13; In a blank book making machine, means for crimping the passing booksalong the median line thereof, said means comprising a horizontallyarranged male chain composed of a common sprocket chain and aseries ofabutting ribbed blocks carried on extended pivot pins of the sprocketchain, a female chain composed of a common sprocket chain and a seriesof normally abutting groove plates supported on extended pins of saidsprocket chain, and means for driving the parts, said female chainslanting upwardly from its forward bearing to form guiding entrance forthe incoming books.

14. In a book making machine having means for feeding a continuousprocession of books therethrough, mechanism for crimping the movingbooks at the central iold line, consisting of upper and lower endless,flexible co-acting devices and rotary members for supporting them, acutter, squeezing mechanism consisting of endless, flexible companiondevices operating in opposed relation and rotary members for sup portingthem, and means for driving the said rotary members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this10th day of February, 1927.

FREDERICK RENZ.

